“No, not really. But I know enough about her as a person.”
“Do you?” he asked. “Or do you just like the way this feels right now?”
I arched an eyebrow at him and planted my hands on my hips. “What doesthatmatter? So what if I like the way it feels right now? Because it feels really fucking good. It feels right.”
“Has it occurred to you that she might only be with you for the money?” he asked pointblank. “Maybe her mother still feels cheated and they’re trying to get their hands on a chunk of Westwood money through you.”
I scoffed. “You’ve got it completely backwards. If she was after my money, I’d give it to her in a heartbeat.”
“What?”
“You heard me.” I shrugged. “I can always make more money, Alex. I don’t give a shit. If she wanted it, I’d hand it over. Sign it away. Whatever. But she wouldn’t take it.”
“That’s naive.”
“No, it’s a fact.” He opened his mouth, but I didn’t let him speak. “She doesn’t even let me pay for her lattes. Do you know how insulting that is? She won’t even let me buy her a fucking drink. If she’s that proud and that stubborn, do you really think she’s after my money?”
“It could be an act.”
“It’s not,” I insisted. “She’s an incredibly successful attorney. Makes great money, considering the firm she works for handles some of our cases. And we all know how much our attorneysbill per hour. She moved to Chicago to work, not hunt for billionaires, for God’s sake.” I pointed toward the door, like Jacque might somehow be out there right now, proving my point. “She doesn’t need me, Alex. That’s the whole thing.”
“What thing?”
“She’s herself around me,” I said. “When I’m with her, there’s no performance. She’s not working an angle to get on a yacht or score a vacation out of me. She doesn’t want the publicity or the perks. She’s never made me feel like I have to put on an act when I’m with her either. I get to be exactly the weirdo I really am and shestillwants to spend time with me.”
“You get to be a weirdo.That’syour argument?”
“Yes, and you know what I mean.”
“Unfortunately, I do, but that doesn’t mean she’s not using you. People will put up with a lot for the amount of money she’d get out of marrying you.”
“Which brings us full circle, because if that’s what she wants, I’m willing to give it to her,” I said. “You know, for putting up with it and all.”
“You’ll need a prenup,” he said finally. “Iron-clad, Jesse. I’m not fucking around about this.”
“That’s your takeaway?” I asked. “After all that, you’re worried about the prenup? Obviously, we would draw something up. That’s as much of a Westwood tradition as arranged marriages.”
“Yes, but this one is going to be important.”
“More important than yours?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Jane is theCEOofThayer Steelworks. As soon as she got her company back, she didn’t need my money. God only knows why, but I’m pretty sure she’s not sticking around for theyearly bonuses and milestone payouts. I mean, come on. Thayer fucking Steelworks.”
“But Jacqueline will? That’s what you’re implying, right? That my prenup is more important because my girl is less worthy? Do you even hear yourself?”
He sighed. “I’m just trying to protect you.”
I scoffed, pacing back to the window and scowling as I looked out of it. “No, you’re annoyed because I’m choosing this. I’m choosingherand it just so happens that she’s a great girl who worked hard for what she has, not some heiress with a portfolio or board seats that benefit the family.”
“That’s not?—”
“That’sexactlywhat this is,” I cut in. “You had no problem lining up someone who looked good on paper, but the second I pick a woman on my own, suddenly it’s a problem? Even though she is by all measures an amazing woman.”
His voice rose to match mine. “Because you don’tpick, Jesse. You react. You jump. You?—”
